Bipolar disorder is characterized by intense highs and lows known as manic and depressive episodes. Some women who suffer from bipolar disorder want to get pregnant and have children and others become pregnant without knowing it. Certain risk factors and dangers come with having this disorder and becoming pregnant. It is important to be aware of these risks if you fit into this category.
Basics
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, women who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder and become pregnant or give birth are seven times more likely to get hospitalized than women with the disorder who do not become pregnant. Being pregnant and giving birth exacerbates the symptoms of bipolar disorder, which can increase the likelihood of a woman experiencing a major depressive or manic episode.
Considerations
It is important that women with bipolar disorder plan their pregnancies with their doctors if possible. This can greatly decrease the risk factors involved, because the doctor can monitor the medications and switch them in advance if needed. The two types of medication most commonly recommended for pregnant women with bipolar disorder include antipsychotics and lithium. Also, it is helpful to discuss these decisions in therapy. Pregnancy can be stressful for any woman, and therapists can help with needed support.
Significance
Bipolar disorder is not something that is curable in a short amount of time. Treatment can last for years or a person's entire lifetime and medication is one of the basic components of treatment. When a woman who is taking a mood stabilizer becomes pregnant, she might become worried about the medications affecting her unborn child. It is important that she doesn't stop taking the medication without discussing it with her doctor first, because this can lead to the mother participating in risky behaviors that puts the unborn child's life at risk. The doctor may recommend switching to another medication.
Misconceptions
Some people believe that women struggling with bipolar disorder can't have healthy babies and children. There is a genetic link in bipolar disorder, but this does not mean that a woman with bipolar disorder can't have a healthy baby. If she works with her doctor, psychiatrist and therapist during the pregnancy, she can stabilize her mood and have a healthy pregnancy. Just like all other pregnant women, regular exercise, sleep and healthy eating are important pieces to having a healthy pregnancy.
Warning
Some medications that treat bipolar disorder can lead to serious side effects for women who are pregnant. Many medications cross the placenta and enter the breast milk and can cause complications for the child and mother. Two medications known for serious side effects include Depakote and Tegretol. Some doctors and patients decide to continue the Depakote treatment for pregnant women; however, adding Vitamin K is usually necessary to prevent complications with the fetus. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, experts do not recommend Tegretol, because it can lead life-threatening complications, such as a rare blood disease and liver failure.
